U.S. Department of Labor and Oldcastle Building Envelope Inc. Reach Agreement to Resolve Alleged Hiring Discrimination

COVINGTON, GA – The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a conciliation agreement with Oldcastle Building Envelope Inc., a federal government contractor that supplies building materials – in which the employer will pay $300,000 in back wages and interest to eligible class members to resolve hiring discrimination allegations at the company’s Covington, Georgia facility. In the agreement, Oldcastle Building Envelope does not admit to the allegations of the Department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

OFCCP alleged Oldcastle Building Envelope discriminated, in favor of white and male applicants, against female and African American applicants who applied for glassworker production positions. OFCCP found the company’s actions violated Executive Order 11246, which prohibits federal contractors from discriminating in employment based on race, national origin or gender. In addition to paying back wages and interest, Oldcastle Building Envelope agreed to provide job opportunities to 49 affected applicants. The company will also take steps to ensure its personnel practices, including recruitment, recordkeeping and internal auditing procedures comply with the law.

“Federal contractors and subcontractors must comply with all federal anti-discrimination laws,” said Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Southeast Regional Director Samuel Maiden, in Atlanta, Georgia. “Oldcastle Building Envelope is working cooperatively with the U.S. Department of Labor to resolve this matter and has committed to providing equal employment opportunities.”

Oldcastle Building Envelope Inc. supplies architectural glass for federal projects, including the curtain wall for the U.S. Federal Courthouse in Miami, Florida.

If you think you may be one of the applicants eligible for back pay or job opportunities from this settlement, or may know someone who is, please visit the OFCCP Class Member Locator for information about this, and other OFCCP settlements.

In addition to Executive Order 11246, OFCCP enforces Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974. These laws, as amended, make it illegal for contractors and subcontractors doing business with the federal government to discriminate in employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. In addition, contractors and subcontractors are prohibited from discriminating against applicants or employees because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their compensation or the compensation of others subject to certain limitations, and may not retaliate against applicants or employees for engaging in protected activities. These laws also require that federal contractors provide equal employment opportunity through affirmative action. For more information, please call OFCCP’s toll-free helpline at 800-397-6251 or visit https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.